Elder Oaks: The Lord Loves His Asian Children

“The Lord must love His Asian children,” said Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who recently visited Singapore, Cambodia, India, and Hong Kong.

With so many people in Asia, we have a great work to do, he said, but “we see the Church growing steadily, with the members developing in their faith and their maturity and with marvelous leadership.”

That maturing leadership was especially apparent in Singapore and Cambodia, where the leaders and many of the missionaries are native citizens of those countries.

Saints in Cambodia are hungry for the gospel, he said, despite intense opposition at times from friends and family. Courageous converts need “the witness of the Holy Spirit planted deeply in their hearts” to withstand those kinds of pressures.

In Hyderabad, India, where Elder Oaks created the nation's first stake during his May 2012 visit, “you could feel a wave of enthusiasm,” he said. “It was an experience I’ll always remember.”

Hong Kong is a beacon in the sense that it “replenishes and encourages and supports the Church throughout Asia” because members from countries across Asia can participate in temple worship there.